Masai congregations outside Arusha

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Through him [Jesus Christ] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2).

Today we had the opportunity to visit two Masai congregations to the West of Arusha. They are both stories of hope, so I’d like to tell you their stories.

This morning Pastor Jeremiah picked us up at about 9:00am. He was accompanied by Pastor Nathan Lengutai and Evangelist Tangeza. We drove through Arusha and headed west into the dry and barren wastelands of northern Tanzania. In this area there is little vegetation on the ground, and the dirt is easily stirred up by the turbulent winds well known by the people of this land. There are no big cities, just villages of mud buildings with thatched roofs along the side of the road. The typical passerby would hesitate to stop here, just like they would hesitate to slow down if they found themselves in one of Chicago’s bad neighborhoods. But the people here are kind and ready to offer a cup of tea for weary travelers. This is Masai land. A ranching people who herd sheep, goats and some cattle, they are wanderers - taking their animals wherever they can find grass to feed them. They are a simple people who have little or nothing beyond the wooden stick in their hands and the colorful sheets which they use to clothe themselves.

It is in this environment that we arrived. We met a large number of members from the Engamata Masai congregation (even though it was a Saturday). They were working on the second stage of constructing a new church. The land had been leveled and holes had been dug into the ground with tree branches jutting from them. This frame was beginning to give the new church shape. The members greeted us and took a break from construction to sit with us and discuss their project and their situation.

The frame goes up on the Engamata church building.

We found that this was the same congregation we had visited several years ago. They had built a nice church and had started a school as well. But their land has been taken over by the government as a part of land to be used for military operations. In a recent military exercise, the church building was destroyed, forcing them to move further away from the military zone. They are now building on the other side of the road, far away from their former land. They are requesting assistance with the iron sheets to cover their church building before the rainy season comes in November. The cost of supplying the iron sheets for this building would be about $350. Although discouraged by the destruction of their church they are not giving up. They are moving forward, eager to start again and continue in their service to the Lord.

Sticks have been gathered in anticipation of the new building project.

From here we traveled further to the north, many miles from anything more than foot travel. Rocks and ruts lined the “road” we drove on and lions are said to roam these lands in the evening looking for the stray sheep or goat to feed their family. We came to the village of Noosuyan, which was nothing like what you might picture in your mind. This village consisted of 9,000 residents, but they were scattered over hundreds of acres. We came to a community school where the church now worships. It was a nice building, although small, made with a stick frame and using iron sheets for the roof and walls. The church has now been given a plot of land by the village elders for the purpose of building their own church.

The land given by the village elders for our new church building.

The interesting thing is that this is the only church in this village at this time. We were told that this was the only church in 20 kilometers, and that is a huge distance in this land. They have already gathered the wood for the frame and are ready to begin building here too. Again they are asking for assistance to supply the iron sheets for the roof. About the same size as the first, this would also cost about $350. What is encouraging is the opportunities we have in these two areas. Two groups of people who are focusing on the hope that God alone can give through His word of truth. May our Lord continue to be with them and sustain them through the trials of this life through His word!

In the service of Christ,

Nathanael